PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jacek Szpaczynski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spencer Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jacek Szpaczynski looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Szpaczynski
vs
Erickson

170 cm
20
152 lbs
1 - 5 - 1

170 cm
24
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jacek Szpaczynski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Spencer Erickson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szpaczynski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Erickson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Szpaczynski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Szpaczynski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Erickson sprawls well. Erickson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Szpaczynski gets slowly back to his feet.
Szpaczynski has a takedown stuffed.

Erickson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Szpaczynski, pushing him back against the cage.
Szpaczynski takes a knee right on the jaw!
Erickson lands a knee to the body.

Szpaczynski turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Erickson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Erickson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Erickson closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Erickson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Szpaczynski's face.
Erickson lands an elbow inside.
Erickson crunches a lovely knee into Szpaczynski's ribcage.
Erickson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Szpaczynski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Szpaczynski drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Erickson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacek Szpaczynski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Erickson manages to break the clinch.
Erickson wants to clinch.
Szpaczynski dives in and grabs Erickson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Erickson pushes down on Szpaczynski's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Erickson clinches with his opponent.
Erickson stops a takedown attempt from Szpaczynski.

Erickson pulls guard successfully.
Erickson lands a couple of shots from the bottom.

Erickson wriggles free and stands up.
Erickson dives in and grabs Szpaczynski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Szpaczynski pushes down on Erickson's head and hops out.
Erickson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Szpaczynski shoots in for a takedown but Erickson shows good takedown defense.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Szpaczynski keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice sprawl there from Erickson as Szpaczynski shoots in.
Szpaczynski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Erickson tries to clinch but Szpaczynski is having none of it.
Erickson closes the distance looking to clinch

so Szpaczynski counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Szpaczynski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Szpaczynski works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Erickson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Szpaczynski is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Erickson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Szpaczynski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Erickson on the ground.
Szpaczynski perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Erickson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Szpaczynski is looking to take a break and control but Erickson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szpaczynski stalling.
Erickson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Erickson tries to kick Szpaczynski off but Szpaczynski keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Szpaczynski trying to control the pace.
Erickson wants to control but Szpaczynski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Erickson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Erickson pushes Szpaczynski off looking to stand but Szpaczynski dives back in and keeps control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szpaczynski looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Szpaczynski shoots for a double leg takedown but Erickson sprawls well. He's pushed Szpaczynski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Erickson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Szpaczynski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spencer Erickson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Erickson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Erickson tries to clinch up but Szpaczynski circles away and keeps his distance.
Szpaczynski will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Erickson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Erickson tries to clinch up.
Szpaczynski leaves Erickson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Erickson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Erickson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Szpaczynski.
Szpaczynski closes the distance and clinches up with Erickson, looking for a takedown. Szpaczynski pushes Erickson against the cage but Erickson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Szpaczynski.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacek Szpaczynski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Erickson tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szpaczynski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Erickson defends it nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Erickson.
Erickson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Szpaczynski avoids it really well and circles away.

Erickson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Szpaczynski, pushing him back against the cage.

Erickson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Erickson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Szpaczynski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Erickson moves away.
Erickson stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Erickson is defended easily by Szpaczynski.
Erickson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Erickson tries to clinch up but Szpaczynski circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice takedown defense from Erickson. No joy for Szpaczynski on that attempt.
Szpaczynski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Erickson sprawls well. Erickson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Szpaczynski gets slowly back to his feet.
Erickson tries to clinch
and Szpaczynski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Erickson tries to clinch up but Szpaczynski circles away and keeps his distance.
Jacek Szpaczynski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Szpaczynski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Erickson.
Erickson tries to clinch but Szpaczynski is having none of it.

Szpaczynski has managed to clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Erickson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Erickson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Szpaczynski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szpaczynski is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Erickson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Erickson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Erickson misses with a knee to the head.
Erickson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Erickson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Erickson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Erickson breaks the clinch.

Szpaczynski gets a clinch.
Szpaczynski is working for takedown but Erickson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Erickson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Szpaczynski uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Erickson is pulling down on Szpaczynski's head. It's preventing any offense from Szpaczynski, at least for the moment.
Szpaczynski stops Erickson from standing up.
Szpaczynski passes Erickson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Erickson trying to hold on to Szpaczynski's head to control him but Szpaczynski postures up.
Erickson is trying to stand back up but Szpaczynski is controlling him
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Erickson kicks Szpaczynski off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Szpaczynski shoots for a double leg takedown but Erickson sprawls well. He's pushed Szpaczynski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Szpaczynski shoots in for a takedown but Erickson shows good takedown defense.
Szpaczynski's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Szpaczynski duly obliges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spencer Erickson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Szpaczynski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Szpaczynski shoots in looking for a takedown. Erickson tries to sprawl out of it but Szpaczynski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Erickson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Erickson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Szpaczynski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Erickson misses with a takedown attempt - Szpaczynski sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice sprawl there from Szpaczynski as Erickson shoots in.

Szpaczynski drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Erickson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Erickson.

Erickson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Szpaczynski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Erickson as he jumps to the side.
Jacek Szpaczynski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Szpaczynski swings widly with a right hand
and Erickson counters with a big head kick but Szpaczynski shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szpaczynski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Erickson tries to clinch up but Szpaczynski circles away and keeps his distance.
Szpaczynski misses with a leg kick

and Erickson moves into the clinch.
Szpaczynski has Erickson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Erickson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacek Szpaczynski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Erickson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Szpaczynski fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Erickson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Szpaczynski pushes Erickson up against the cage in a clinch.
Erickson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Erickson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Erickson tries a knee to the head but Szpaczynski blocks it.
Erickson wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson tries to break free but Szpaczynski pushes him back against the cage.
Szpaczynski avoids a wild elbow strike from Erickson.
Erickson scores a nice knee to the body.
Erickson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Erickson looking to throw knees to the head but Szpaczynski is blocking nicely.
Erickson is stalling here.
Erickson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Erickson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Erickson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Spencer Erickson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson misses with a takedown attempt - Szpaczynski sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Szpaczynski fails with the takedown.
Erickson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Erickson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Szpaczynski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Erickson tries to clinch there but Szpaczynski circles away.
Erickson dives in and grabs Szpaczynski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Szpaczynski pushes down on Erickson's head and hops out.
Horrible takedown by Szpaczynski or perhaps it was just good defense by Erickson which made him look bad.

Szpaczynski feints and as Erickson raises his hands in defense, Szpaczynski changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Szpaczynski looking to pass the guard.
Szpaczynski wants to control from the top but Erickson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Erickson keeping full guard, as Szpaczynski tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Erickson is on top in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Erickson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Erickson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Erickson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Erickson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Szpaczynski manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Erickson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Szpaczynski shoots for a double leg takedown but Erickson sprawls well. He's pushed Szpaczynski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jacek Szpaczynski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Szpaczynski shoots for a double leg takedown but Erickson sprawls well. He's pushed Szpaczynski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Erickson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Spencer Erickson.
I've got Erickson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Spencer Erickson!